Taking the Fear Out of Health Care

Letitia Rooney, who has autism, has a filling
put in by dentist Dr. Michael Matthias.

BEAR, Del. -- Going to the dentist isn’t likely to top the list of fun ways to spend your time. But for people with cognitive, developmental and physical disabilities, the experience can be downright frightening, from the dental tools to the unfamiliar faces to the fingers poking around their mouth.
But with a little practice, a seat in the dentist’s chair doesn’t have to be a scary event. That’s the goal at Practice Without Pressure, a nonprofit organization in Bear that helps patients with disabilities and their families prepare for medical procedures.